Traffic Nightmare Due to Water Main Break

The traffic nightmare is mostly over for Lexington drivers who take Tates Creek Road for their daily commute. Around 4 a.m. Tuesday, a 12-inch pipe ruptured at the intersection of Tates Creek Road and Gainesway Drive. It sent gushing water across several lanes of one of Lexington's major traffic arteries near New Circle Road. Police diverted motorists for seven hours while crews made repairs.

Kentucky American Water spokeswoman Susan Lancho says the break was caused Monday by a contractor who nicked the pipe with an auger.

"At the time it was inspected yesterday, it didn't appear to be problematic in terms of any kind of emergency repair needed, but sometime in the early morning hours, that obviously changed."

Lancho says between 100 and 200 customers were affected with lower water pressure and placed under a boil water advisory.

By 11 a.m., police had reopened the two outbound lanes on Tates Creek and one inbound lane.